Lactarius rubrilacteus
Encyclopedia
Lactarius rubrilacteus is a species of mushroom
of the genus
Lactarius. It is also known as the bleeding milkcap, as is at least one other member of the genus, Lactarius deliciosus
.
can be either a bluish green or an orangy brown hue, with creamy white or yellow spore
s that are ellipsoid
in shape. The cap
of the mushroom is convex and sometimes shield-shaped and 6 – across, reaching a height of 5 – tall. The cap also has quite an underfolded margin and a depressive disk.
Lactarius rubrilacteus has many laticifer
s which appear as a white network across the surface of the mushroom. When sliced or cut, the mushroom flesh will typically release a dark red to purple latex
or milk
y substance. The flesh
itself will lose colour when damaged, and is usually granular or brittle
to the touch. The stem
is quite thin, being only several centimetres in any dimension, and is of an average size and shape for a mushroom. The fungus itself exudes a slight odour
that is faintly aromatic. While it is not known if the mushroom would be edible
, small taste tests reveal that the mushroom is mild to slightly bitter.
, growing in forest
s and on the ground. The mushroom usually finds cover under conifer trees, mainly pines. It is widely distributed in these areas between the months of June and October.
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Lactarius. It is also known as the bleeding milkcap, as is at least one other member of the genus, Lactarius deliciosus
Lactarius deliciosus
Lactarius deliciosus, commonly known as the Saffron milk cap, Red pine mushroom, is one of the best known members of the large milk-cap genus Lactarius in the order Russulales...
.
Description
The mushroomMushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
can be either a bluish green or an orangy brown hue, with creamy white or yellow spore
Spore
In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...
s that are ellipsoid
Ellipse
In geometry, an ellipse is a plane curve that results from the intersection of a cone by a plane in a way that produces a closed curve. Circles are special cases of ellipses, obtained when the cutting plane is orthogonal to the cone's axis...
in shape. The cap
Pileus (mycology)
The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium. The hymenium may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus...
of the mushroom is convex and sometimes shield-shaped and 6 – across, reaching a height of 5 – tall. The cap also has quite an underfolded margin and a depressive disk.
Lactarius rubrilacteus has many laticifer
Laticifer
A laticifer is a type of elongated secretory cell found in the leaves and/or stems of plants that produce latex and rubber as secondary metabolites. Laticifers may be articulated, i.e., composed of a series of cells joined together, or non-articulated, consisting of one long cell...
s which appear as a white network across the surface of the mushroom. When sliced or cut, the mushroom flesh will typically release a dark red to purple latex
Latex
Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
or milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
y substance. The flesh
Trama (mycology)
In mycology trama is a term for the inner, fleshy portion of a mushroom's basidiocarp, or fruit body. It is distinct from the outer layer of tissue, known as the pileipellis or cuticle, and from the spore-bearing tissue layer known as the hymenium....
itself will lose colour when damaged, and is usually granular or brittle
Brittle
A material is brittle if, when subjected to stress, it breaks without significant deformation . Brittle materials absorb relatively little energy prior to fracture, even those of high strength. Breaking is often accompanied by a snapping sound. Brittle materials include most ceramics and glasses ...
to the touch. The stem
Stipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
is quite thin, being only several centimetres in any dimension, and is of an average size and shape for a mushroom. The fungus itself exudes a slight odour
Odor
An odor or odour is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds, generally at a very low concentration, that humans or other animals perceive by the sense of olfaction. Odors are also commonly called scents, which can refer to both pleasant and unpleasant odors...
that is faintly aromatic. While it is not known if the mushroom would be edible
Edible mushroom
Edible mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruiting bodies of several species of fungi. Mushrooms belong to the macrofungi, because their fruiting structures are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. They can appear either below ground or above ground where they may be picked by hand...
, small taste tests reveal that the mushroom is mild to slightly bitter.
Distribution and habitat
The mushroom is primarily found in parts of western North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, growing in forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s and on the ground. The mushroom usually finds cover under conifer trees, mainly pines. It is widely distributed in these areas between the months of June and October.
Chemical reactivity
- Potassium hydroxidePotassium hydroxidePotassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula KOH, commonly called caustic potash.Along with sodium hydroxide , this colorless solid is a prototypical strong base. It has many industrial and niche applications. Most applications exploit its reactivity toward acids and its corrosive...
: When the mushroom comes in contact with potassium hydroxide, the most of the mushroom, including the mantle and ectomycorrhizae, loses its bluish hue and becomes a dull brown. - Melzer's ReagentMelzer's ReagentMelzer's reagent is a chemical reagent used by mycologists to assist with the identification of fungi.-Composition:...
: Hardly any visible reaction on any part of the mushroom occurs. This particular mushroom appears to have little reactivity to Melzer's Reagent. - Sulfovanillin: Most of the mushroom becomes a reddish brown color, but the oldest rootRootIn vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s of the fungi stay unaltered by contact with sulfovanillin.